If you think outside the ice cube for a minute, you’ll see that the humble ice cube tray is capable of much more. Today I’m sharing 6 kitchen hacks using ice cube trays. Whether it’s saving leftover ingredients in portions to use as needed, adding a boost of flavor to soups, stews, and steaks, or keeping your favorite cold beverages from getting watered down, a simple ice cube tray can help with all of it. Here are my favorite ice cube tray kitchen hacks!
Freeze coffee to use for iced coffee (without watering it down)
For this iced coffee hack, just pour coffee into an ice cube tray, freeze, and add to your coffee to enjoy iced coffee without it getting watered down! Watch how to make it here.
Freeze leftover pesto to use for recipes as needed
Don’t let leftover pesto go to waste! You can freeze tablespoon portions in an ice cube tray to add to recipes as needed (including those famous pesto eggs). Learn how to make, freeze, and store fresh pesto here.
Freeze leftover tomato paste from a can
Don’t throw away leftover tomato paste! After you use what you need from the can for your recipe, freeze and save leftover tomato paste in tablespoon portions to use later. After freezing in ice cube trays, store the tomato paste cubes in an airtight container in the freezer. Click here to learn more.
Have excess lemons? Freeze the juice!
If you have an excess of lemons you need to use before they go bad, squeeze the juice into ice cube trays and freeze. Use them as needed in recipes like soups (a bit of lemon juice is especially good in chicken soup), or in a cup of lemonade instead of ice cubes so your beverage doesn’t get watered down.
Freeze that little bit leftover in a bottle of wine
Don’t waste that awkward amount left in a bottle of wine. Freeze it in ice cube trays instead! You can use the frozen wine cubes to add extra flavor to sauces and stews.
Make herb butter in ice cube trays
Looking to use up some fresh herbs? Freeze them in butter to make herb butter for steaks or bread. It works with rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, chives, basil, tarragon, etc. (or a combo of any of them). Click here to learn how to make and freeze herb butter.
Want more tips for freezing and storing food? Check out these other articles:
- Freezing and storing homemade chicken stock
- Freezable meals for new moms (and how to meal prep and freeze dinners before baby)
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